His last outing was Brighton and Boro seized control from the first whistle there too so he will now think his protege's team are habitual sprint starters.

The display was bright and confident and in sharp contrast to much to the groaning when the team sheet was unveiled.

And it was two of the players who have come in from considerable cyber-space sniping in recent months that carved Fulham apart for the opener.

There was a flash of vintage Steaua period Stewart Downing – this month's scapegoat-elect - as he latched onto a neat ball by Adam Forshaw down the left flank.

He wriggled past the flat-footed Stearman and to whip a perfect cross to the far post for Albert Adomah – written off in January when the terrace chatter had it “he'll never play for us again” - popped up unmarked to head home.

It was a brilliant start that had the 4,000 or so Boro fans EIOing in wild abandon.

It was the start of a blistering spell as the assertive team pushed forward with panache and zip.

They showed urgency and crisp, intelligent movement as they scythed through an admittedly shambolic Fulham.

The Cottagers started with three centre-backs, wing-backs and two defensive midfielders but the set up was creaking and leaking like a rusty raft made from oil drums on an primary school Outward Bound course.

Boro were quick to roar into them. Adam Forshaw was perpetual motion, buzzing about in midfield and playing perceptive forward balls. Adomah was hungry. Downing was a winger and Ross McCormack - a supposed arch-Nemesis - was anonymous.

Boro should have been out of sight long before Grant Leadbitter stroked home the second from the spot.

The was the mandatory nervous spell and just before the break Dimi made his weekly wonder save, tipping over an acrobatic effort from Dembele.